Traffic congestion in a popular tourist town in the Scottish Highlands has reached 'crisis point' and is 'strangling' economic growth, business leaders have warned.
Frazer Coupland, Chief Executive of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, has urged the Scottish and UK Government to create a plan for a road network "that Fort William needs and deserves" including improvements to the A82.
Lochaber is home to major UK industries including BSW Timber, Ferguson Transport & Shipping and MOWI who have said the biggest challenge to their businesses is the A82 and traffic congestion in the town.
Mr Coupland said the state-of-the-art sawmill on the outskirts of Fort William is set up to produce "vastly more" timber than it currently does but 8-10 projects may not go ahead because of the "inadequate" road network.
The business leader said he had attended meetings with three Scottish Government transport ministers "but the issues remain."
He said: "Traffic congestion in and around Fort William is at crisis point.
"With no resilience and no indication of any steps to address the serious issues that have a stranglehold on the growth and effectiveness of Lochaber businesses Lochaber Chamber of Commerce are calling for urgent action to be taken by the Scottish and UK Governments and Transport Scotland.
“Engage with our business communities, and create a plan for the road network that Fort William needs and deserves.
“The west highlands urgently need a road network that is fit for purpose. Over the last six years alone, Lochaber Chamber of Commerce has held meetings with three different Transport Ministers from the Scottish Government. The issues remain.”
The Scottish salmon sector is the largest food export in the UK and around 40% of this is processed and despatched from the Mowi Fort William Plant.
Scott Nolan, Sales & Operations Director of Mowi said: “During peak summer months the most challenging part of the journey to market for our product is getting through Fort William.
"Delays leaving the area can lead to missed connections and unnecessary delays."
Alasdair Ferguson, Group MD of Ferguson Transport and Shipping said he had been "dealing with the challenge of poor infrastructure for decades".
He described the condition and the dimensions of the A82 along with the congestion through Fort William as the biggest constraint on their business.
He said: “We do not have fit for purpose infrastructure to deal with the volume or the scale of traffic.”
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Mr Coupland added: "Fort William is and continues to be a great place for businesses to operate.
"Major employers are looking to grow locally including SSE Renewables who have proposed the Coire Glas Pumped Hydro Storage Scheme, the largest engineering project in the Highlands for 80 years, near Fort William.
“However, transport infrastructure affects every business and every person in Fort William and the wider west highland area, and Lochaber urgently needs investment in its road network to help the Scottish economy grow and prosper.”
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: "“We recognise the transport challenges being faced in and around Fort William.
“Included in the second Strategic Transport Project’s Review (STPR2) is the proposal to develop an Integrated Transport Plan(ITP) for Fort William.
"This could help increase resilience on the trunk road and to improve sustainable transport provision.
“Transport Scotland met with relevant local and regional partners last month to explore roles and responsibilities and funding for the ITP. Further discussions will look to finalise arrangements.
“We are committed to continuing to bring this complex piece of work together with the Fort William 2040 Masterplan, to ensure we develop a long term, sustainable solution for the people of Fort William and all those who travel on the A82 through the town.”
The Herald has contacted the UK government for comment.
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